Comb with level detector

ABSTRACT

A comb formed of a unitary body comprising a longitudinally extending straight section having opposite sides, a multiplicity of teeth projecting transversely from the straight section and a level detector assembly disposed in said straight section at one end of the comb for providing the user of the comb with a true indication of the vertical and horizontal position of the comb. The level detector assembly comprises two transparent members spaced apart and aligned on opposite sides of the straight section between an opening in said straight section extending between the opposite sides and a ball disposed in the opening. At least one of said transparent members includes an intersecting vertical and horizontal line on a surface thereof such that the vertical and horizontal position of the comb can be determined based upon the position of the ball relative to the position of the intersecting lines.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hair comb having a level detector foraccurately providing level information to the user of the comb for moreaccurately styling and parting hair. The level detector in the comb isalso useful to determine if the side burns are properly aligned and toadjust the hair line along the edges and behind the neck using a scissoror shaver in combination with the comb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When hair is combed by a professional barber or hair stylist many hairstyles require the hair to be parted accurately. It is also customaryfor the professional hair stylist to adjust the hair line along thescalp and to align a man's side burns relative to the horizontal as wellas to accurately align the edge of the hair line behind the neckrelative to the horizontal. The side burns should also be in alignmentrelative to each other. This is done at present simply by eye ballingthe relationship and position of the desired hair line and side burnsrelative to the horizontal. To facilitate accuracy, the professionalhair stylist will use the comb not only to comb hair but also forjudging hair line position during hair styling and for shaving with theedge of the comb used as a straight edge. However, despite how straightthe edge of a comb may be it does not indicate a true level measurementand if the edge of the comb is used as a level the result can beinaccurate and misleading.

The comb of the present invention includes a level detector mechanism toassist the hair stylist to accurately determine hair line and edgeposition relative to a true horizontal. This information is needed foraccurately parting the hair or for edge design along the scalp and/orfor aligning side burns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The comb and level detector of the present invention is formed of aunitary body comprising a straight section extending longitudinally fromtwo opposite ends of the comb, a multiplicity of spaced apart teethprojecting transversely from the straight section and a level detectorassembly disposed in said straight section adjacent one end of said combwith said level detector assembly comprising two transparent membersextending between an opening in the straight section between theopposite sides of the comb and a ball disposed in the opening betweenthe two transparent members with movement of the ball confined by thetwo transparent members and with at least one of two transparent membershaving an intersecting vertical and horizontal line on a surface thereoffor providing the user of the comb with a true indication of thevertical and horizontal position of the comb based upon the position ofthe ball relative to the position of the intersecting lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the invention when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the comb and level detector of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the level detector in the combtaken along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the comb is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 inclusivewith the comb identified by the reference number 10. The comb 10 is of aunitary construction having a substantially straight body section 12extending longitudinally between two opposite ends 13 and 14 and amultiplicity of teeth 15 extending in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal straight section 12. The multiplicity of teeth 15 arespaced a fixed distance apart. The comb 10 is formed with the straightsection 12 and teeth 15 composed of a conventional material compositionpreferably of plastic. A level detector 17 is integrally formed in thebody of the comb 10 preferably located in the straight body section 12adjacent one of the ends 13 or 14 respectively.

The level detector 17 is shown in FIG. 1 located at the end 14 of thestraight section 12. The level detector 17 comprises two transparentmembers 20 and 22 connected on opposite sides of the comb 10 separatedby an opening 24 with a ball 25 located in the opening 24. Preferably,the straight section 12 is molded with the opening 24 formed therein atthe end 14 of the comb 10 so that the opening 24 extends between the twoopposite sides 26 and 27 of the comb 10 to define a fixed open space forplacement of the ball 25. A recessed area 28 and 29 is formed on eachopposite side 26 and 27 of the comb 10 upon which the two transparentmembers 20 and 22 are fixedly seated so that they lie flush with theopposite sides 26 and 27 of the comb 10. The opposite sides 26 and 27 ofthe comb 10 are spaced a predetermined distance apart to permit the ball25 to move freely within the opening 24 with ball movement confinedbetween the opposite sides by the two transparent members 20 and 22respectively as is clearly evident in FIG. 2. The ball 25 is preferablysubstantially spherical in geometry. The transparent members 20 and 22may be adhesively attached to the recessed areas 28 and 29 on oppositesides 26 and 27 of the comb 10.

The transparent members 20 and 22 are preferably composed of atransparent plastic or glass composition with at least one of thetransparent members 20 or 22 having an intersecting vertical andhorizontal line 33 and 34 formed on its surface to provide the user ofthe comb 10 with the ability to judge a hair line position relative to atrue vertical and horizontal direction. The ball 25 will move relativeto the position of the intersecting lines 33 and 34 when the position ofthe comb 10 is manipulated such that when the ball is positioned on thevertical line 34 the comb 10 will be level with the horizontal and whenthe comb is positioned with the ball 25 on the horizontal line 33 thecomb 10 will be level with the vertical.

1. A comb formed of a unitary body comprising a longitudinally extendingstraight section having opposite sides, a multiplicity of teethprojecting transversely from the straight section and a level detectorassembly disposed in said straight section with said level detectorassembly comprising two transparent members spaced apart and aligned onopposite sides of the straight section, an opening in said straightsection extending between said transparent members and a ball disposedin said opening between said two transparent members wherein at leastone of said transparent members includes an intersecting vertical andhorizontal line on a surface thereof for providing the user of the combwith a true indication of the vertical and horizontal position of thecomb based upon the position of the ball relative to the position of theintersecting lines.
 2. A comb as defined in claim 1 wherein said leveldetector assembly is incorporated in said straight section adjacent oneend of the comb.
 3. A comb as defined in claim 2 wherein saidtransparent members are composed of a plastic or glass composition.
 4. Acomb as defined in claim 3 wherein each side of said comb has a recessedarea within which each of said transparent members are seated to lieflush with the opposite sides of the comb.
 5. A comb as defined in claim4 wherein each of said transparent members are adhesively connected tothe recessed areas on opposite sides of the comb.
 6. A comb as definedin claim 5 wherein said opening is a free space in which said ball isconfined on both sides of the comb by said transparent members.